Stockport and East Cheshire NHS trusts to develop ‘Case for Change’

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and East Cheshire NHS Trust have begun working together to explore how health and care services can be improved for local residents.

The trusts routinely see patients move between services operated by the two trusts, whose collective catchment covers parts of South Manchester, Eastern Cheshire, and parts of neighbouring Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

In a bid to explore ways local people can have health needs better met by the two organisations, the trusts have come together to develop a ‘Case for Change’ to explore new models for working together. The Case for Change is also being supported by the organisations that deliver GP and other local health services including NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, and NHS Stockport CCG as well as NHS England and newly created Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board.

Following a listening exercise with local people, patients, carers and staff, the Case for Change report will be used to inform future solutions for how the NHS trusts can work together to improve care in Stockport and East Cheshire.

At this stage, no decisions have been made and the two trusts are at the formative stages of developing solutions to the problems faced in delivering joined-up care. For any future proposals that may result in significant change to delivery of the services, a period of consultation would be carried out, in line with legislation, to gather views before any changes are carried out.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust operates Stepping Hill Hospital and community NHS services across the borough, while East Cheshire NHS Trust runs hospitals in Macclesfield, Congleton and Knutsford.